Animated greeting card



Dec. 30, 1969 E. M. MAHER 3,486,270

ANIMATED GREETING CARD Filed June 13, 1966 FIG. l

INVENTOR EDITH M. MAHER.

BY Z Z l l ATTORNEYS nited States Patent O 3,486,270 ANIMATED GREETING CARD lEdith M. Maher, 415 Sandford St.,

Covington, Ky. 41011 Filed June 13, 1966, Ser. No. 557,216 Int. Cl. A63h 7/02, 11/00 U.S. Cl. 46-36 1 Claim ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure relates to animated devices particularly adapted for use as a greeting card, plaque or the like which utilizes figure means and associated string means to produce a puppet like effect which is realistic and life like.

This invention pertains to animated devices and more particularly to an animated device adapted to be used as a greeting card, plaques, life size figures, such as clothing models or the like.

Presently known animated devices, such as animated greeting cards, for example, usually require that a portion of each of such cards be suitably imprinted with an illustration to be used with an associated moveable member to provide an animated effect. The effect produced by such present devices is not every interesting because it is generally not su'iciently life-like in nature.

Accordingly, it is a feature of this invention to provide an improved animated device capable of producing an animated representation which is realistic and life-like in nature and which does not require the use of background illustrations, or the like, to produce such animated representation.

Another feature of this invention is to provide an improved animated device of the character mentioned which utilizes figure means and associated string means to produce a puppet-like effect.

Another feature of this invention is to provide an improved animated device capable of repeatedly producing a realistic animated representation by employing figure means having portions thereof pivotally mounted on a supporting structure and having string means fastened to selected portions of such figure means to produce such animated representation upon pulling such string means and wherein gravity returns such selected portions to their initial positions upon releasing tension on said string means.

Another feature of this invention is to provide an improved animated device of the character mentioned adapted to be used as a greeting card, or the like.

Another feature of this invention is to provide an improved animated device of the character mentioned which is easily insertable in envelope means.

Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved animated device having one or more of the novel features of this invention as set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Other objects, uses, and advantages of this invention are apparent from a reading of this description which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front perspective view with parts broken away of an exemplary animated device of this invention adapted to be used as a greeting card showing such card opened for viewing and particularly showing the arrangement of associated gure means and string means.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view with parts broken away of rear surface means of such greeting card particularly showing, by dotted lines, the position of such figure means prior to pulling such string means and the manner 3,486,270 Patented Dec. 30, 1969 of extending such string means through openings in such supporting structure.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter illustrated and described as being particularly adaptable for providing an improved animated device such as a greeting card, or the like, it is to be understood that the various features of this invention can be utilized singly or in any combination thereof to provide an animated device for other uses, as desired.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized to illustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

`In the exemplary embodiment of this invention illustrated in the drawings, an animated device illustrated as a greeting card 10 is shown. Greeting card 10 has a portion thereof which is used as a supporting structure and designated by the numeral 11. Supporting structure 11 supports figure means thereon in the form of a girl indicated by the numeral 12 and a horse indicated by the numeral 13. Girl 12 is shown standing on the croup of horse 13 and string means is provided and fastened to selected portions of girl 12 and horse 13 such that upon pulling such string means a realistic puppet-like animated representation is produced of the girl performing acrobatic maneuvers.

Supporting structure 11 comprises a fiat sheet-like member or stiff sheet having front planar surface means such as a fiat front surface 14 and a pair of spaced apart opening means or openings 15 and 16 therein for extending free end means of the previously mentioned string means therethrough. Supporting structure 11 is adapted to be held with its front surface 14 in an essentially vertical position and in this example openings 15 and 16 extend through structure 11 normal to surface 14.

The right leg of girl 12 has an integral extension therebelow designated by the numeral 17 with a circular opening 1S provided therein. A similar opening 19 is provided in the hind quarters of horse 13. Rivet means shown in this example as a rivet 20 extends through openings 18, 19, and a suitably positioned opening 21 in supporting sheet 11 to fasten girl 12 and horse 13 0n sheet 11 for pivoting movements upon pulling the associated string means to be presently described.

The string means comprises a plurality of strings each having fastened end means fastened to selected portions of either girl 12 or horse 13. A string 22 is fastened to the neck of horse 13 at 23 and the free end of such string 22 extends through opening 15 in supporting sheet 11 and is fastened to a pull ring 24 to enable easy pulling yof string 22. A string 25 is fastened to the upper torso of girl 12 at 26 and string 25 also extends through opening 15 and is attached to pull ring 24.

A string 30 is attached to the left thigh of girl 12 at 31 and string 30 extends through opening I16 in supporting sheet 11. The free end of string 30 is attached to another pull ring 32 similar to pull ring 24.

Thus, it will be appreciated that upon pulling ring 24, the front portion of the horse is moved from the solid line at 33 to the position shown by dotted lines at 33A. It will be `appreciated also that upon pulling ring 24 girl 12 is held in upright position tilted toward `the head of the horse from the position tilted toward the head of the horse from the solid line position shown at 34 to the dotted line position shown at 34A.

Upon pulling ring 32 the left leg of girl 12 is moved from the solid line position at 35 to the dotted line (tilted) position shown at 35A. This action gives the realistic effect of girl 12 performing the diffcult feat of riding on the croup of a horse while standing on one leg.

Rings 24 and 32 cannot kbe pulled simultaneously as 32 holds girl in upright position and 24 pulls left leg up making girl tilt forward. She cant do both at same time. By alternately pulling rings 24 and 32 upwardly `a realistic -animated representation is produced in a puppet-like manner in which the horse appears to ybe rearing upon its hind legs and the girl appears to move from a position of standing on both feet to an :acrobatic position of standing on one leg with arms outstretched. Upon releasing the tension on strings 22, 25, .and 30 by lowering rings 24 and 32 it will be appreciated that the selected portions of girl 12 'and horse 13 will move downwardly and return lto the previously mentioned solid line position due to the `action of gravity. The `animated effect may be repeated as desired merely by raising and lowering rings 24 and 32 in a puppet-like manner.

The front lower legs of horse 13 are pivoted about a pin 40 in this example. Upon pulling string 22 to move horse 13 `from solid line position 33 to dotted line position 33A, the action of gravity on the freely pivoted front lower legs causes such legs to hang essentially vertically and give the realistic effect of horse 13 lbending its knees while rearing on its hind legs.

Thus, it is seen that the action of gravity is used to provide a realistic animated movement in instances where strings are fastened directly to selected portions of a figure as Iwell as in instances where portions of a figure are freely pivoted and other portions thereof are moved by such strings.

The fiat supporting sheet 11 is preferably made of a suitable -foldable material and has score means shown as a score line 11A defining one side edge thereof and defining cover means such as a cover 41 extending therebeyond. Cover 41 is adapted to be folded about score line 11A to provide a protective and concealing cover for girl 12 and horse 13.

It will be seen that upon releasing pull rings 24 and 32 the figures assume their initial (solid line) positions. Upon folding cover 41 against front surface 14 of supporting sheet 1-1, the figures are completely hidden from kView so as to provide a greeting card which does not show its surprise contents until cover 41 is opened in a booklike manner.

The combined thickness of supporting structure 11 and cover 41 with the figure means sandwiched therebetween is -very small. Such small thickness provides a compact device which is easily insertable in an -associated envelope such as amailing envelope or the like.

As seen in FIGURE 2 of the drawings, strings 22, 25, and 30 lare attached to selected portions of girl 12 and horse 13 as previously described and then extend through holes 15 and 16 in supporting sheet r11 to the rear surface thereof designated by the numeral 43. Although in this example of the invention a good portion of strings 22, 25, and 30 aer seen from the front face of the greeting card 10, it -will be appreciated that the disclosed technique of providing animated movement is such that the figures and associated holes similar to holes 15 and 16 can be placed in :a supporting structure of another card so as to practically completely hide most of the strings from view once such other greeting card is viewed from the front.

As -will be readily apparent from the drawings, each of the strings is attached to selected portions of girl 12 and horse 13 so as to provide life-like lbody movements in both instances.

In this exemplary embodiment of this invention Ia girl 12 is shown standing on a horse 13 and both figures are supported for pivoting movement. It will be understood that any type figure may be used employing the improved features of this invention, for example, figures of dancers,

acrobats, clowns, animals, etc., as desired. Also, it is not necessary that the-figures @be pivotally supported, the strings employed may provide the sole support.

It should be especially noted that girl 12 and horse 13 are supported on supporting structure 11 in an independent manner. It is not necessary to provide illustrations on front surface 14 of supporting structure 11 in order to make the animated representation possible. While it may `be desirable in some applications of this invention to provide some illustration on front surface 14, it will be appreciated that such illustration is not necessary and that the animated figures are generally self-sufcient.

Terms such as upwardly, downwardly, etc., have been used in this disclosure of the invention for ease of description and to describe the puppet-like motions of the figures as illustrated in the drawings and the use of such terms should 'not be considered as limiting the scope of this invention in any Way.

Thus, it is seen that an improved animated device of simple construction has been provided which is easy to operate and which us'es string means to give a puppetlike action to figure means and which utilizes gravity to enable repeated animated performance.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed as required by statute, other forms may be used, all coming Within the scope of the claimed subject matter Which follows.

What is claimed is:

1. An animated device comprising, a supporting structure ligure means supported on said supporting structure, and string means fastened to selected portions of said figure means and operating free of said supporting structure, said supporting structure comprising a flat sheet-like member having front planar surface means and having opening means extending therethrough normal to said planar surface means with said member being held with said front planar surface means arranged generally vertically, said figure lmeans lying against said front surface means, said string means having fastened end means fastened to said selected portions and free end means extending through said opening means, pivot means fastened to said supporting structure and to said figure means so that upon pulling said string means said selected portions pivot about said pivot means, said free end means of said string means extending through said opening means to lie ladjacent rear surface means of said sheetlike member partially hidden from view upon looking at said figure means, means attached to said free end means enabling easy pulling of said string means and preventing said free end means from being pulled completely through said opening means in a direction away from said front surface means, said string means comprising -a plurality of strings, said strings having ends thereof fastened to said selected portions, such that pulling of said strings produces a puppet-like performance.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,264,583 12/1941 Porter 46-126 2,658,304 11/1953 Ferrier 46-36 2,742,287 4/ 1956 Barker 46-36 ANTONIO F. GUIDA, Primary Examiner R. F. CUTTING, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 46-126 

